Hamilton mausoleum

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Hamilton mausoleum

The Hamilton Mausoleum is a mausoleum in the Scottish city ​​of Hamilton in the Council Area South Lanarkshire . In 1971 the building was included in the Scottish List of Monuments in the highest category A.

history

Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, 10th Duke of Hamilton had the mausoleum built on the property of Hamilton Palace . In 1840 he had a design by the Scottish architect David Hamilton implemented. After his death three years later, construction stopped. In 1848 David Bryce took over the project and implemented a modified design by 1855. Alexander Handyside Ritchie is responsible for the stone carving .

description

Look into the dome

The neo-Romanesque mausoleum on the northeastern edge of Hamilton rises 36 m in height. A square, three-tier pedestal forms the foundation of the mausoleum. Pilasters divide its five-axis wide facades vertically. If large, unadorned stone slabs are set into oblong recesses in the middle, round-arched recesses frame the four flanking slabs. A rotunda with rusticated masonry sits on top of this component . It closes with a dome.

The building rests on a raised ground. It is accessible through three arched portals on the east side, which are below the pedestal. Stairs leading up to the platform flank this area. The keystones of the three portals are decorated with reliefs that symbolize life, death and immortality. Two sculptures of reclining lions are enthroned above the area. Another entrance on the west side is much simpler. An architrave crowns the elongated portal. The bronze doors are modeled on Lorenzo Ghiberti's door to paradise in Florence .

  • Life

  • death

  • immortality

The richly ornamented interior is designed with Ionic pilasters and niches crowned by cornices . A multi-colored marble was chosen for the floor. As a result of its geometry, the building is known for its long echo. Allegedly it was the longest echo in the world until it was replaced by the Inchindown oil tanks at Invergordon, Scotland .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  2. ↑ Information about the Douglas Mausoleum
  3. ↑ " Hearing a world record: the longest echo ever measured" , rollingstone.de, January 17, 2014

Web links

Commons : Hamilton Mausoleum  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 55 ° 47 '0 "  N , 4 ° 1' 53.5"  W.